Collapsible center.



PATENTEDy JAN. 8, 1907.

hrm-840,672.

' E. W. UTZLBR,

GOLLAPSIBLE CENTER. APPLICATION FILED JUNEIB., 19K-)6.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTBD JAN. 8, 1907. E. W. UTZLER.

coLLAPsIBLB CENTER. v

APPLICATION FILED JUNEVIB. 1906.

z SHEETS-snm' n.

UITED STAWENT, oFFion.

ELMER'W. U'rzLEa, on PITTSBURG., PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNfoa oFoNa-4 nani* To JOHN H. CARLINOF PITTSBURG, rnNNsrLvANfL/i.

' coLLAPslBLE penn-zn.

Specification of Letters Patent, l

Patented Jan. s, 1907.

Application filed June 18, 1 906. l Serial No. 822,334.

To a/ZZ whom 'it may con/cerro.' y

Be it known that I, ELMER W. UTZLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg'iin the county of Allegheny'and State of Pennsylvania, have vinvented certain newl and useful Improvements in Collapsible Centers, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to theaccompalnying drawings.

My invention refers to improvements incenter supports for sewers, conduits, tunnels, or any similar hollow structure composed of diemen@ concrete, brick, or other material built in continuous hollow forin; `and it hasA for its obj ect to provide a simple, strong, and convenient means for providing a temporary supporting structure or pattern-framework upon and around which the desired construction is built. j. v i

' The invention generally comprises `twoseries of connected interitting sectionsladapted to make abutting and overlapping contact longitudinally and transversely, respectively, and to provide a structure adapted for quick and convenient vassemblage and adjustmentand ofbeng as easily taken apartorremoved from the finished structure. l

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is al central vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus complete. Fig. -2 is a transverse sectional view on the line IIl II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 visa cross-section on the line III III of Fig. 1 showing the cam-lock. j Fig. 4y is a face view of the cam-lock of Fig-'3; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal'section on'the-line V V of Fig. 1 showingv the cam-lock. .Figa is aface view of the cam-lock of Fig'. 5. l v. l

The `sections. composingl the collapsible f s e et-steel or iron,

frame or center are o `wood, or other. material l'arranged generally finan up erand a lowerconnectedjs'erles composed o upperv sections lZand lower sections 3. Thesesections may bef-of anyrdesir'ed j form Jin cross-sectionaccording to the cross- 45 sectional` area of the sewer or .other conduit Y to bebuiltandare bent .into such form, as indicated Fig.- 2, or may' be merely semicircular or--ofotherpreferred shape. Each ,.f'section'.2 and 3 is provided at-one end with a n inner plate 4; riveted tothe end of the sec- .;l tion and adapted to lap.over, underneath; or?` within `the .next adjacent section, as' .clearlyl shown in Fig. 1, thus insuring an interfitting joint. (L1kew1sexone ofthe sections 2 or 3,

preferably the-'upper section 2, is provided with an inner plate or iiange 5,. running along each meeting edge, sufiicient clearnessbeing left at each end for plates 4, whereby the sec-4 n tions 2 and 3 are thus neatly joined. For the purpose of clamping the sections together endwise and of clamping the opposite meeting'edges of sections 2 and 3,11 employ an lmproved cam-locking mechanism. (Shown in the different'gures andv in detail.)-

, The endwise locking devices comprise the armsor. straps Q, which may be of wrought or malleableA metal pivotally mounted at 7between lugs 848 of a base9, secured upon the the outer' end of arm 6 ispivotally mounted 'at 10 a locking cam 11, adapted to bear byl its variable/radius periphery 1-2 against the .face

.of lug 13,A said lug having a terminal horn -14 Aand' preferably lprovided ,with an undercutrecess for the camA and projecting up from the base 15, secured lthe ther meeting section 1 'edge of one of thesections, as section 2", In

3. f The camll is provided with an operating-handle 16, of any suitable form or shape, r

preferably bent out for operating clearance, as shown, and by this constructionit willbe 'seen that the strap Gzma'y be/ thrown around on its pivot 7 to locking position,l as shown in '1, or out of the way when unlocked, as ,Y

indicated in dotted lines in said iigure.

1 `When in locking position, the operation of the cam bearing a ainst lug 13 is to draw the opposite edge of t e adjacent section tightly a ai-nst the meeting edge of the section to w parts willbe ri 'dly held'together untilthe ydevice is `unloc ed by reversing the cam.. For the purposeof arresting the motion of the strap 6 I provide a bearing-lip 1-7,project ing inwardly from base 9, as shown, thus positively locating the operative position of the cam.

f The construction of the cam-lock for joining the meetingedges of sections 2 and-3 is` generally similar lto the construction just described, the `parts being indicated by the ch 'lug 13 is secured, in which position the Av)o same numerals ,primed, andthe operation be-:

ing likewise the same. In these locks, however, I. provide the bearing-lugs 8` for thelink with inwardly-.projecting horn terminals 18,'V

adapted to ma e abutting contact with the horn terminal 14 of 'locking lug 13,whle a `sup lemental bearing-lug'17 .is adapted to' ma ebearing-contact for the strap 6' thus insuring accurate bearing ,and positive engagement. A further important advantage of the horn 18 is that in making abutting conv tact'with the opposite lug'13 or horn 14 the 5 parts are so braced that any tendency of the meeting edges of the shell to buckle out'- -.Wardly is positively prevented, while the edges of the sections are caused to accurately engage each other, preventing any overlapping disengagement. As shown in the drawings, the bases 9 and 9 are mounted upon the langelstri s 4 and 5, the partsbeing securely held toget er by rivets passing through the base, strip, and the outer shell, all rivets be ing preferably countersunk, so as to provide a smooth exterior surface. For distending for, contracting the diameter ofthe sections in l"ji'nountingor unmounting them and ofposil Uvtively hol the sections duri the o era, ze tion of biijilldigng the surroundirgg condupdt, I v employ 4bracing elements of any suitable con- -struction adapted for ready and'convenient 'adjustment'. For this purpose I have shown `ordinal-'y turnbuckles 19, engaging rods 20 20, said rods'having terminal hooks 21 21 engaging corresponding apertures in inwardlyrojecting lugs 22122. .As many such turn- Euckle's and attaching-lugs may be employed as are desired, depending upon the form of the apparatus, its size; or other conditions. The bearing-lugs 22 may be of any suitable' construction and may be convenienti made of strips of angle form riveted along t e interior sides of the section, as kshown in the drawings, or these flange-lugs may ,be continuations of the strips 5 of the u per section or of single s ecial lug forni, as esired. All advantage o' the ca'mslocking devices is that being attached tothe sections they are always in position for-11S@ and not liableto loss or dis laceme'nt, while being very strong and durab e and capable of ma g a very secure l jointing connection between ythe sections.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The sections are mounted in ytheir assembled forni, as shown in Fig. 2. The concrete orother structure is then built around the exterior, and whensuiiciently hardened the nterior center is collapsed, the locking cams first having 'been disengaged by drawing in l.the turnbuckle-braces This operation is indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 2 whereupon the upper sections may be dropped down within the lower sections and removed endw-ise, after which the lower sectiolllsl are drawn inwardlyby the turnbuckle- 'braees'and likewise remove The sections maybe of anynumberdength, 6o or'dimensions desired, and theinvention may be changed or varied otherwise in different details of design .org construction by the 'skilled mechanic; but all such changes and variations are to be considered as within the- 6 5 'scope of the following claims.

'sections having elements, substantially as set forth.

'with of ythe upper section.

plate secured to thein-ner side of one 1. A collapsible center consisting of inter` fitting sections of sheet metal, one of said pivoted straps provided with the other of said sections have` ing holdin -lugs adapted to be "engaged thereby, w ereby the adjacent edges of the sections may be drawn together and locked, substantially as set forth.

2. A collapsible center comprising interitting section s of sheet metal having overanges, cam-actuated lockingI devices aving pivoted cams with ydeflected operating-handles and adjustable bracing locking cams, 7

3. In a collapsible center, the combination with meeting sections,l of pivoted straps pro` vided with` a locking cam, mounted on'one section,y anda lug on the adjacent section adapted to be engaged thereby, substantially as set forth.

4. In a collapsible center, the combination with meeting sections, of a base secured to one of the sections provided with pivotallyattached straps having a locking cam between their terminals, and an engaging lug secured to the other section adapted to -be pngaged by said cam, substantially as set or V 5. In a collapsible center,'the combination With meeting sections, of a base secured to one of the sections provided with pivotallyattached straps having a locking cam between their terniinals, and an enc-aging lug secured to the other section andJ provide with a retaining-horn adapted to be engaged by said cam, substantially as set forth.

6. In acollapsible center, the combination withmeeting sections, of a base secured to one of the'sections provided with pivotallyattached straps having a locking cam between their terminals, and an engaging lufr secured to the other section and provide with a retainingfhorn and a cam-recess yadapted to be engaged by said cam, substantially as set forth.

7. In a'collapsible center, the combination meeting sections, of a base secured to one of the sections provided with a pivotal bearing, a pro`ecting bearing-lug; and pivotallyv-mounte stra s having a locking cam pivotally mounted etween their terminals, --andV a loek' lug secured to the other section providrd 4with a cam-engaging horn, substantially vas set' forth.

. -8. 'In a collapsible center, the combination meeting sections, of an voverlap ing o the sections and arran ed to engage the inner edge of the next adjacent section, a pivotal bearing-having a terminal horn secured to the first-named" section and'provided with pivotally-niounted straps 'carryin r a ivoted cam between their terminals', and a o cking. lug secured to the otherl section having a 13 IOO IIO

4 Withineeting sections, provided with overllapping longitudinal l cured to and extending transversely from the opposite faces of sald sections and provided with adjusting turnbuckles, substantially as set forth.

11. In a collapsible tubular structure of sheet metal, the combination of interttin horned cam-engaging terminal, substantially as set forth. .I

9. In a collapsible center, the combination and transverse inner flanges, locking lugs secured to the edges of t soine of the sections, and corresponding pivsections provided. with longitudinal an otally-inounted straps rovided with locking transverse underlapping anges, means for cams secured to the e "es of corresponding bracing and collapsin the sections, pivoted adjacent sections and a a ted to engage said straps rovided with ockingcarns,l and corlugs, substantially as set orth. l

respon ing enga ring lugssecured to the meeting edges of sai sections respectively, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ELMER W. UTZLR.

10. A collapsible center comprising series of upper and lower longitudinally-interntting sections, said upper and lower sections rneeting in a horizontal plane and provided With engaging flanges, consisting of pivoted straps carrying cam-locking devices adapted to Witnesses: clam the adjacent edges of said sections CEAS. S. LEPLEY, tog-et er,` and collapsible bracing-rods se- C. M. CLARKE. 

